With the development of the economy and the advancement of urban construction, noise pollution is increasingly affecting the urban environment and the physical and mental health of residents. Some countries strive to reduce noise pollution and actively build a harmonious and livable urban environment by introducing targeted laws and regulations, drawing urban noise maps, installing technological noise reduction equipment, and enhancing public awareness of civilization.

Germany

Featured "quiet time"

Reporter Zhang Huizhong

When renting a house in Berlin, Germany, the lease agreement usually includes provisions that tenants should avoid noise during "quiet hours": from Monday to Saturday, the "quiet hours" are from 1 pm to 3 pm and from 10 pm to 7 am; All day time on Sundays and public holidays.

"Quiet time" is a regulation with German characteristics, which varies among federal states but not significantly. If neighbors believe that a resident is causing noise during quiet time, they can directly point out or report to the resident. Depending on the situation, the relevant residents may be warned, fined up to 5000 euros, or even sued in court. Therefore, the vast majority of German residents strictly adhere to the rules during quiet time.

In terms of noise control, Germany has a relatively complete legal system and technical measures. The Federal Emission Control Act passed by Germany in 1974, based on the principle of "polluter pays", establishes rules for four main sources of noise: transportation, industry, neighborhoods, and mobile machinery. In 2005, Germany made amendments to the Federal Emission Control Act in accordance with the European Union's Environmental Noise Directive. In addition, the German government has also formulated relevant laws and regulations for different fields such as aviation, road traffic, and industry.

In order to reduce the impact of noise pollution on enterprise employees, Germany introduced the German Workplace Regulations and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations on Noise and Vibration in 2004 and 2007, respectively, requiring workplaces to adhere to the principle of minimizing noise. At the same time, the employer needs to conduct a noise assessment and provide reminders, hearing protectors, and preventive occupational medical services to employees based on the assessment results.

In terms of noise control measures, Germany divides noise pollution control into three levels: first, to avoid noise from the source; The second priority is to reduce noise during propagation; Finally, it is to reduce noise at the receiver level. To implement precise policies, government departments have drawn noise maps for major roads, railways, airports, and urban agglomerations, and based on this, have discussed with local residents to develop noise reduction action plans.

The main governance measures of the government include issuing operating permits only to industrial and commercial institutions that have not been adversely affected by noise, laying road surfaces with more sound-absorbing materials, considering noise protection when planning night flight routes, and installing soundproof glass for residents near railway airports.

It is worth noting that in 2011, Germany amended the Federal Emission Control Law, exempting noise restrictions on children under 6 years old and excluding children's noise generated in daycare centers, outdoor playgrounds, sports fields, and other places from the scope of "harmful environments". In addition, some federal laws also tolerate behaviors such as crying and fussing during "quiet time" for infants and young children, but at the same time, it is believed that parents have an obligation to consider the physical and mental health of their neighbors and reduce their children's influence on others through educational means.

France

A new type of "noise radar"

Reporter Liu Lingling

Recently, multiple "noise radars" have appeared on the streets of cities such as Paris, Nice, and Toulouse in France. After official operation, vehicles exceeding the specified decibels will be automatically recorded as violating regulations and fined. France is both "controlling" and "preventing" noise, continuously improving and refining corresponding laws and regulations, while increasing the application of technology in noise reduction.

The French Environmental and Energy Administration recently released a set of data showing that approximately 25 million people in France are affected by noise pollution, of which 9 million suffer from physical or mental health problems due to noise pollution. In France, noise pollution causes an annual economic loss of approximately 147 billion euros (1 euro is approximately 7.0 yuan in Chinese currency). Traffic noise, industrial noise, and social environmental noise are the main sources of noise.

The data shows that traffic noise is the main source of noise pollution in France. As early as 1992, France introduced laws on noise control, implementing a policy of combining prevention and control of noise in the transportation sector. In 2002, the European union passed the Environmental Noise Directive, providing a common framework for member states to control traffic noise pollution. France has drawn noise maps for major roads, railways, residential areas, etc. according to this framework, and displayed different noise levels through different colors. People only need to enter their postal code to check the level of noise pollution on the official website of the municipal map. This noise map is updated every 5 years, and local governments will adopt an "Environmental Noise Prevention Plan" to prevent and reduce noise in the environment.

In response to industrial noise pollution, the French Public Health Law stipulates that public or private works, as well as any works related to buildings, must be declared and authorized before construction can proceed. During the construction process, it is necessary to comply with the material and equipment usage requirements specified by the local regulatory authorities. In addition, the construction party must take appropriate preventive measures to limit noise, such as using low-noise power starting devices as much as possible, adopting enclosure isolation or other noise reduction measures, etc. The construction site needs to detect the main noise sources, and once they exceed the specified requirements, they must be rectified in a timely manner.

The Public Health Law also provides detailed regulations on the noise generated by sports, gatherings, and cultural leisure activities. The overall principle is that in public or private places, no noise shall affect the peace and health of neighbors due to its duration, repetition, or intensity. Once noise disturbance occurs, residents can solve it through legal means. During this process, the municipal government will play a major mediating role. After ineffective face-to-face communication with the noise generator, residents can file a complaint with the municipal government. If the issue persists and cannot be resolved, the municipal government can be requested to provide an appeal certificate and then file a lawsuit with the court.

In addition to national unified regulations, different cities in France have also adopted different noise control measures tailored to local conditions. For example, the Paris city government has invested in the renovation and refurbishment of related facilities on highways in the past five years, and added sound insulation facilities to some residential buildings.

Laurence Rossi, Chairman of the French National Noise Management Committee, believes that the relevant laws and regulations in France have carefully divided noise pollution, making noise control systematic, But we need to continue to work hard to reduce noise from the source in an efficient and economical way. Although soundproof walls are effective, they are very expensive and unattractive. Therefore, we are researching ways to further combat noise pollution from a technical perspective, such as road surface renovation, speed restrictions, engine replacement, and widespread installation of 'noise radar'.

Britain

Intuitive noise map

Reporter Xing Xue

The UK has a long history of using legal means to control noise pollution, with legal rulings targeting noise disturbance as early as the Middle Ages. In 1974, the UK introduced the Pollution Control Act, which granted local governments the power to deal with certain types of noise; In 1990, the Environmental Protection Law designated noise that was harmful to health as a disturbance; In 1996, the Noise Law stipulated the use of fixed standards to manage nighttime noise in relevant places.

In order to help decision-makers and residents understand the level of noise pollution, the UK completed the Birmingham City Noise Map in 2000 and launched the London Road Traffic Noise Map in 2004. On the map, different colors represent different sound pressure levels. People only need to log in to the noise map website and enter the postal code to check the level of noise on the relevant streets. Noise maps provide a guide for people living in cities to avoid noise. The London road traffic noise map even had an impact on housing prices in different parts of London at one point. The government can visually understand the situation of noise pollution and the effectiveness of control through noise maps.

In 2019, the UK released the third edition of the noise map for England and corresponding action plans. The action plan proposes that in the next five years, the UK government will take action to strengthen management based on the noise map, and minimize the noise caused by roads, railways, airplanes, etc., while continuing to maintain a good and quiet environment in low-noise areas.

In February this year, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme stated that urban noise pollution is one of the "biggest emerging environmental threats" in the world. The World Health Organization has listed traffic noise as the second leading cause of poor health in Western Europe, second only to air pollution. Researchers found that high noise levels will lead to an increase in the incidence rate of coronary artery disease and stroke, and will also have a serious impact on people with autism and other developmental system diseases. As early as 2012, a survey report in the UK showed that 5 million people in the country were greatly affected by traffic noise.

In 2019, London launched the "Ultra Low Emission Zone" initiative, promoting more people to choose new energy vehicles. These vehicles not only reduce air pollution, but also make them quieter, which is conducive to reducing the overall noise level of the city. Starting from January this year, acoustic cameras have been installed on the streets in some parts of London to specifically capture high noise vehicles such as speeding sports cars, and fines have been imposed. Especially at night, these speeding sports cars often disturb residents.

According to new regulations introduced in the UK this year, registered cars should not exceed 74 decibels when driving between 2007 and 2016, and registered cars after 2016 should not exceed 72 decibels. Some regions in the UK plan to increase fines for noise. At present, relevant companies are researching the accuracy of identifying high noise vehicles in traffic flow through technological transformation, and how to use new materials to enhance the sound insulation effect of houses, creating a quieter and healthier living environment for people living in cities.

Singapore

Strict laws and regulations

Reporter Liu Hui

Singapore has a small population and a dense living environment. During the prevention and control of the COVID-19, many people worked at home, and complaints about noise in buildings rose to more than 1000 per month on average, a sharp increase compared with that before the epidemic.

To control and reduce urban noise, Singapore has implemented strict laws and regulations. The Environmental Protection and Management Act sets noise standards for different locations. For example, in hospitals, schools, and other places, the maximum noise level must be controlled between 50-60 decibels, and in residential areas, it must be controlled between 55-75 decibels.

Construction sites located less than 150 meters away from residential areas and noise sensitive areas must comply with strict noise control measures. From 2016 to 2020, the government banned an average of about 150 construction sites that violated Sunday work restrictions for the first time each year. Any individual who fails to comply with the rectification requirements may face high fines or even imprisonment.

Starting from October this year, construction sites that violate work restrictions must install designated video surveillance equipment at their own expense in accordance with government requirements, and grant government departments access to these equipment. The Singapore government has also established a dedicated fund to subsidize construction companies in purchasing new construction and noise reduction equipment.

To reduce motor vehicle noise pollution, the Singapore government has stipulated that new and used cars exported to Singapore must meet noise emission standards. All vehicles need to be regularly inspected at the testing center, and vehicles that do not meet the standards will be prohibited from driving. The Singapore government is currently further tightening vehicle noise emission standards. Starting from April 2023, the maximum noise level of motor vehicles must be controlled between 68-77 decibels.

More than 80% of Singapore's population resides in public housing (planned and constructed by the local government). Housing renovation can only be carried out on working days and Saturdays as required, and is not allowed on Sundays and public holidays. In order to reduce human noise, the Singaporean government will also release neighborhood tips and guidance manuals in public housing, requiring residents not to speak too loudly at home; Avoid noisy entertainment activities; Ensure that children do not make too much noise while playing; It is recommended to install rubber plugs at the bottom of furniture to reduce mopping noise, etc.

Singapore also emphasizes the use of technology and other auxiliary means to reduce the impact of noise, such as the government installing noise meters in residential areas near construction sites, installing sound insulation screens on subway tracks, and installing mufflers on train wheels.